Timely weather

31/8/2024

GH, GK and BG chose Friday, 30th August, for transect 22. The weather was fine, warm with only a light NE wind: just right for seeing late-season butterflies. We were relieved that the numbers counted had recovered following last week's cold weather plummet.

The Meadow Browns, Brown Argus, Common Blues and Small Heaths were still quite numerous and our Chalkhill Blues were just about holding on. Hill Wood Field's Purple Hairstreaks, which we've seen over the 5 weeks, seem to have finished but we had a single Brown Hairstreak pose nicely for us, only to disappear as soon we tried to get a photo. We also had our first sighting this year of a Green-veined White, in Stagbury Field. Speckled Woods have been seen singly this season but on transect 22 we recorded four.

Count details:
101 Meadow Brown
30 Brown Argus
11 Common Blue
7 Small Heath
4 Brimstone
4 Speckled Wood
3 Large White
2 Chalkhill Blue
1 Brown Hairstreak
1 Green-veined White
1 Small Copper
Count summary:
165 butterflies from 11 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward and Brian Gardner.